South Korean actor Park Dong-bin found dead at 56 amid three-year-old daughter’s tragic health battle

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South Korea’s entertainment industry has been rocked by another tragedy. 

Actor Park Dong-bin passed away on Wednesday at the age of 56. He is survived by his wife and their three-year-old daughter.

He was found dead inside his restaurant in Pyeongtaek, which he was getting ready to open.

The Korea Times reports that a friend who was assisting the actor with a new venture discovered his body.

Police in Pyeongtaek have stated they found no evidence of a crime or any indication that the death was intentional, such as a suicide note.

Investigations into the exact cause of death are still ongoing. 

Park is survived by his wife of six years, Lee Sang-yi, and their three-year-old daughter, Jiyu. Jiyu has bravely fought a serious heart condition since birth.

In a heartfelt conversation on the 2024 Korean therapy show, Oh Eun-young’s Golden Counseling Center, Park discussed the health challenges his daughter was facing.

She was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition where the left side of her heart is severely underdeveloped. Without a heart transplant or a series of surgeries, it’s a life-threatening condition, he explained.

Jiyu had her first surgery only four days after she was born, and she would later need two more.

During the interview, Park also shared that he sometimes felt insecure about being an older dad, and people frequently assumed he was Jiyu’s grandfather.

A 54-year-old father expressed concern about being able to financially support his family for the rest of his life, as reported by Star News Korea.

He also bravely shared a deeply personal and painful experience, disclosing that he was sexually abused when he was a child.

‘I was sexually assaulted when I was very young. I still can’t forget it,’ he said.

It didn’t really hit me what had happened until I got older, you know, when I started learning about sex and everything. It was awful realizing it was… that. I just kept it bottled up, never told anyone – not my parents, not even my wife. It was like this secret I carried around forever, and I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about it. It’s just… it was so wrong, and I was so ashamed.

Park explained he decided to share his personal story because he became a father and didn’t want his daughter to experience the same pain he had. He wanted to clearly state that the harmful actions he described were unacceptable.

Despite his hardships, Park was described as a ‘doting father’ who always prioritized his daughter.

After finding out about her husband’s difficult past, his wife shared that she felt deeply saddened, imagining how much he must have suffered.

It looks like Jiyu has successfully completed her surgeries and is now a happy, healthy little girl, according to recent updates on social media.

Park got his start with a small role in the 1998 film Shiri.

He then appeared in many movies and Korean TV shows, mostly in smaller, supporting roles.

Park didn’t quite become a major star, but he gained widespread recognition when a short clip of him spitting out orange juice went viral across Asia, turning it into a popular meme.

The meme’s success led to Park being invited on several popular Korean TV shows, which increased his public recognition.

Before his death, he was focused on opening up his own restaurant.

After the news of his passing broke, fans flooded his wife’s Instagram page with their condolences. 

It just breaks my heart to think about him leaving his beautiful daughter and wife… I read one fan’s comment that perfectly captured how I feel, and it really got to me.

‘Jiyu’s father, may his soul rest in peace,’ added another.

Park’s wake will be held at Domin Funeral Hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province on Friday. 

As a final farewell, my loved one will be laid to rest with a service at the beautiful Yongin Forest of Peace, followed by burial at Woosung Memorial Park. It’s a peaceful location that feels right for honoring their memory.

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2026-04-30 23:36